Sony Clie VZ90 sold only in Japan

Even we don't have palmOne device in Japan, we have Clie which has no new model anymore in other countries.The VZ90 is first model sold only in Japan.

The most interesting thing about this model is its OLED screen. OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays take advantage of the fact that some organic compounds glow when an electrical current is applied to them. This means there is no need of a backlight. This allows OLED screens to be thinner and lighter than standard LEDs. Colors also tend to be more vivid as you can see even from these pictures.

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* Screen's brightness level for both Tungsten C & VZ90 are sets as maximum).

The VZ90's 480-by-320-pixel display is 3.8 inches the largest OLED so far as mass production model.Unlike Sony's UX series, this model isn't locked into landscape mode. Some applications can be run in portrait mode. Pictures on OLED screen can be shown from anyother angles.

This device has a design not used by any previous Clie. It has a tablet shape, but its screen slides up to reveal a D-Pad,like Jog-Dial function, and the hardware buttons. Some Clie fans thinks slide keyboard is much better than D-Pad, but I think as a multimedea device, no keyboard is needed. D-Pad is more suitable for the VZ90. However, it is not so good when I use D-Pad, I have to slide the VZ90.

The VZ90 runs the Japanese version of Palm OS 5.2.1 on a 128 MHz Handheld Engine, Sony's proprietary processor.

It has 64 MB of RAM, of which 40 MB is available to the user. In addition, it has 128 MB of ROM, of which 95 MB is available to the user. The VZ90 also has a Memory Stick slot. The VZ90 also supports a CompactFlash Type II slot that can be used for both memory cards and certain wireless cards.

Sony is emphasizing this device's AV capabilities. Sony's Handheld Engine allows it to play video in a proprietary format at 30 fps.This handheld has built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking, but not Bluetooth, which hasn't really caught on in Japan.
But I think the VZ90 should have Bluetooth. Bluetooth brings more fun to this AV palm device.For exapmle, Bluetooth Remote countrol unit, and Bluetooth Headphones. Such items are really useful for the VZ90. For AV machine, no Wi-Fi is needed.

Sony is touting this model's battery life. It claims the VZ90 will last twice as long on a single charge as the TH55, a model with a very impressive battery life. (You can watch 12hours movie in a raw.)

The SONY case itself is quite a good design. It is used as stand to support th VZ90 when you watch the movie.

J-OS - The Most Famous Application for Localize -

There are several ways to show Japanese Language on the palmOne devices.
But J-OS is the most famous one for Japanese people.

J-OS has many version for each palmOne models.
J-OS can make English palmOne devices as almost same as Japanese one.
J-OS includes J-OS itself and J-OS IME.

J-OS can show you Japanese Language on the screen with four sizes of fonts.
J-OS IME supports to input Japanese Language with another input screen.
CJKOS also can input Japanese, but Hiragana, Katakana only.
J-OS support Kanji= Chinese Charactor ,too.
*CJKOS supports Chinese, Japanese and Korean. But Chinese Charactors in Japanese are different from Chinese Language's.

Localizer or overlays can change even menu and application names of original OS.It looks like really Japanese palmOne device.

Japanese other application runs with J-OS, then you can use these applications as if you run it with Japanese Clie.

"Hacker Dude-san" is the developer = Mr.Yamada's nick name.
However, many times we call him "Kamisama" . It means in English "GOD".
Mr.Yamada is famous with not only J-OS but for other many applications.(e.g. Power JOG).

First J-OS was released in 1996.And J-OS makes palm user increased in Japan.
In 1999, IBM Work Pad 30 which is first Japanese version OS preinstalled was released.
Then we had Palm Vx, Handspring Visor Deluxe in Japan.
Around these time, we could take many Japanese versions, so it seemed like that Roll of J-OS was finished.
But since Palm m515 was released in 2002, which was latest Japanese version palm so far,J-OS is quite important for many palm users in Japan again. Because No Japanese version is released,under the name of Tungsten, Zire,Treo.

Everytime, when new model is released, we expect J-OS is released as soon as possible.His latest J-OS is J-OS for Treo650.(as of Dec 19,2004)

How can Japanese buy palmOne devices ?

In Japanese market, we can buy SONY Clie anywhere, but for palmOne device,
it is not easy for Japanese to buy.
Ofcourse, we can buy oversea shops by internet, but it is really hard for
Japanese people to communicate in English.
Especially, in case of problem is happened and need support from oversea shop,
many of us is afraid to take contact with oversea shops directly...

So there are some shops to sell palmOne devices and support service,too.

Mobile PLAZA (Akihabara)
Located in Akihabara,TOKYO. This city is famous for electric items
even for foreiners.

Mobile Shop Vis-a-Vis(Kyoto)
sells software,too.

PDA Kobo(Okayama)
They have unique service as below,too.
Increase Memory Capacity
Renewal Battery

But there are some disadvantege compare to buy Clie.

1: New Model cannot be in our hand on time.
- Ofcourse, lead time to import from oversea is needed.
2: If you are not residence near these shops,
you have no chance to see and touch palmOne devices.
3: More expensive than original price (include transport charge from oversea etc.)
e.g. Zire 72 Original price US$ 299, but in Japanese shop,409 US$.

So we want to buy palmOne devices with same price level as U.S.A.
and before buy it, we want to check the device by our own hands.

Another Strong Competitor = KEITAI

KEITAI = KEITAI Denwa = Mobile Phone in Japanese.
KEITAI is strong competitor for palm.
But especially for Japanese Market, Mobile phone can
bring more happiness than palm can.

KEITAI steps 3 years forward than any other country's mobile phone.
In these days, GSM mobile phone can support multimedea functions.
But Japanese KEITAI can support
e-mail, web,Movie Mail,TV Phone, watching TV,mp3,Karaoke,GPS Navigation etc.
They have supported same function as MMS before GSM could do.

Of course, our palm smart phone Treo can do these function with additional applications or accesories. However, Treo cannot use in Japan as phone, because PDC or W-CDMA is the major system in Japan(no GSM systems).

But what makes KEITAI is stronger than palm is the tremendous cheap price.

Usually, we can buy New model of KEITAI under 20,000 yen(= same price as Zire 31).
So Japanese thinks Zire 72, Tungstens are quite expensive.
Every 3month, we have New model of KEITAI, and old models can be bought with 1 yen.
But they still have enough multimedia function.
Japanese KEITAI career sells KEITAI itself with cheap price, but talking fee is expensive.
(This is the way of mobile phone business in Japan.)

Japanese can get many functions with cheap price, and new model comes every 3 months.
Clie is fighting such a unique and tough market.
So I can understand why palmOne and Handspring escaped from Japanese Market.

Palm's Strong Competitor = System Techou

In Japanese culture, especially for business,
many Japanese use System Techou = Small Notebook Organizer.

There are many kinds of System Techou.
Real Leather surface, fancy-charactors on it,
One Year type, you can use forever with many refill pages.
Some pages inform you, subway map, exchange-measurement etc.

And around the end of year, when you visit your customer,
you bring new year calender & System Techou to your customer.
(Your company's name is printed on both of them.)

In Japanese culture, "To write something" is very important since
you are elementary school student.
Our teacher says "You can remember by writing on your notebook and it makes clear your idea."
So that is why Paper System Techou is also very important in Japan.

SONY Clie understands this market.
So, TJ25 advertisement mentioned Clie can do what System Techou cannot do.

This advertisement says.
- Can your System Techou keep slim after several years?
- Clie keeps 11.9mm thickness even if you input several years data
- You can write as same as System Techou with new input system "Degma"
- You can read e-mail
- You can bring PC data like (Excel, Word, Power point)
"YOUR NEXT YEAR TECHOU WILL BE CLIE"